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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>] we're in the middle of one of the harshest winters in recent memory, but in
alaska
, the people and the animals are built for it. i had a chance to spend some time with
alaska
's outback with the race's
defending champion
,
mitch
sevy.

>> reporter: the
iditarod
, an annual 1,000-mile journey led by
sled dogs
from anchorage to nome,
alaska
.

>>then put this through?

>>yep, put this foot right up over that.

>>all right, come on.

>>for the sevys, it's all in the family.
mitch
's son, dallas, won in
2012
, making him the youngest musher at 25 ever to take home first, and
mitch
's father, a competitor in years past.

>>there are more sevy names on the roster of finishers than any other last name. we're certainly one of those crazy groups that have been in this for generations.

>> reporter: so, would you say it's in your blood?

>>i would say it's definitely in our blood.

>> reporter: you're a champ, huh? 71 mushers will race through
alaska
's outback this year. okay, you're fast. you're strong. each running a team of 16 dogs at the start that in total will burn close to 200,000 calories a day. their diets consisting of beef, lamb, chicken and some alaskan specialties like salmon and caribou. how are these dogs built for this?

>>these are alaskan huskies. their tough feet, good
fur coats
and loving to travel. you can't beat them. so you see, they have plenty of power.

>> reporter: without reins, the dogs work on command. now, what is the likelihood of you falling off of this?

>>pretty good.

>> reporter: it will take this year's competitors anywhere from nine to ten days to complete the race. at stake, the largest purse in
dog sled racing
, $600,000 divided among the front-runners. but
mitch
sevy says the win is priceless.

>>passion is a polite word. i think many people refer to it as an addiction. a lot of times when the conditions are harsh or i'm tired, i have to pinch myself and say, man, i love my job.

>>the 42nd annual
iditarod
race is later today in downtown anchorage.
mitch
, his son and their team of dogs will be competing. and it was